Printing machine



' June 9, 1936. E. J. WARD PRINTING MACHINE F'il ed Dec. 12, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 m n M ZZZ/449E M34269.

June 1936- E. J. WARD 2,043,600

7 PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l. 3 1 h 4. g uluuum mlllllln a; A

V [F Zlwuentot I June 9, 1936. J. WARD 2,043,600

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 gmnlioi James, 1936. E, JKWARD 2,049,500

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 H" |l mmnuuuununnunnuun,

sen,

June 9, 1936. E, 2,043,600

PRINTING MACHINE Filed D80. 12, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY.

J n 9, 1936- r E. J. WARD 43,600

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec 12, 1929 6 SheEtS-Sheec 6 3nnentor [hm/i=0 dlz aea (Ittorneg Patented June 9, 1936 ilNl'iED STATES PATENT OFFICE 22 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in printing machines of that type adapted to simultaneously print words and figures denoting the same amounts and in which depressible keys of dififerent values are employed to control mechanism adapted to turn parallel rolls on which the letters forming the words and the figures for the printing operation are arranged.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of longitudinally movable bars provided with racks to actuate the letter-bearing and figure-bearing rolls, with said bars normally tensioned for actuation but held against actuation and released to the influence of their tensioning means through the depression of a key, with the said key designed not only to release a particular bar for movement but to predetermine the limit of movement of that bar to thereby predetermine the extent to which the type-carrying rolls are operated, whereby the key will select the type on the particular rolls which is to be arranged in printing position.

The invention has for a further object the provision of means whereby, on the depression of a key in any particular column of keys, all bars to the right of that column of keys will be permitted a movement necessary to actuate their particular type-bearing rolls to indicate zero, so that in arranging for the printing of a particular number, the final figures of which are represented by zero, it is only necessary to depress a number key in the particular number column to actuate all of the bars to the right of that column to a position to move the typebearing rolls to indicate zero; that is to say, where the type-bearing rolls are to be set to print, for example, $4,000.00, the key bearing the number 4 in the thousands column is depressed, releasing the particular bar controlled thereby to position the type bearing rolls corresponding to the thousands column to indicate the numeral 4 as well as the word Four, whereupon the bars controlled by the hundreds, tens and units columns automatically move to a position to adjust the type-bearing rolls controlled thereby to indicate a cypher on the number-bearing rolls and a blank space or asterisk on the word-bearing rolls.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a platen or printing head removably connected to the frame of the machine and carrying rolls to force the material on which the imprint is to be made into contact with the type-bearing rolls as the latter may be adjusted in the actuation of the keys, the pressure rolls of the printing head being movable in one direction to cause an imprint of the type on the paper and movable in the opposite direction in a plane beyond the possibility of imprint pressure, the pressure roll being positively driven in both di- 5 rections in movement of the main operating handle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of sectors bearing the words Thousand and Hundred, which sectors are automatically 10 moved to printing position on the operation of a key in the thousands or hundreds column, aligning of course with the type-bearing roll on which the selected amount appears as a word, so that in arranging the printing mechanism to 15 indicate the amount of $4,000.00, the depression of the key bearing the numeral 4 in the thousands column will move the printing roll bearing the word Four into a position to arrange that word in the printing line and simultaneously move the sector bearing the word Thousand in printing alignment with the word Four, so that the word imprint will read Four thousand bythe mere depression of a single key.

A further object of the present invention is 25 the provision of resetting mechanism operated directly by the main operating handle and serving to automatically reset all previously operated bars, the resetting operation taking place simultaneously with the idle or return move- 30 ment of the pressure rolls of the printing head.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of the improved machine. 35

Figure 1 is a detail in elevation showing the means for operating the printing head controlling shait by the handle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation thereof. 40

Figure 4 is a broken horizontal section illustrating more particularly the relation of the type-bearing rolls and the printing head.

Figure 5 is a broken sectional view showing the means for operating the word-bearing sectors.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the operating means for said sectors.

Figure 7 is a sectional View, partly in elevation, showing the connection between the main operating handle and the printing head.

Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating the means for controlling the imprint position of the pressure rolls of the printing head. 55

45 sands from One to"Twenty.'

partly :in elevation, showing thepinions operated by the rock bars and the gears for simultaneously driving the selected rolls.

The printing elements of this invention include printing rolls bearing the words indicating the desired amount and printing rolls bearing the numbers. Each word-bearing roll -.-has avcorresponding number-bearing roll and the word-bearing rolls are arranged to-permit theprinting'of the amount in words on a line across the face of a check or the like while the number-bearing rolls are group'edto print theamount in figures at one side of and preferably above the linebearing the amount in words.

The printin'g head comprises a'frame structure '25 including upright'side pieces Iconnected by an intermediate frame 2'0f appropriate configuration to support the various instrumentalitiesassociated 'with the printing elements. Mounted in the side pieces l-is afixed spindle or shaft 3 on 0 which'aresupported'the word-bearing rolls.

The particular machine illustrated is adapted to indicate amounts up to'$20,'000.00, both in words and figures, and while the description of the particular rolls will be in=accordance with this arrangement; it is, of course, apparent that the machine may bereadily adapted, merely by appro- "priate duplication, for higher amounts.

The word-bearingrolls are shown as grouped in accordance with'United'States currency, that 1 40 ispthere will be two-rolls which, through proper manipulation; can be causedto'indicate the cents from One to Ninety nine, the rolls-indicating the dollars from'="0n'e to' Nine hundred and ninety nine, and a single roll indicating the thou- The two rolls for indicating the cents are shown at 4 and 5, the threerolls for indicatingthe dollars are shown at 6, l and 8, and the roll for indicating the thousands is 'shownat 9.

It is,- of course, apparent that th'e'rolls 4 and 5 must be capable of printing words to indicate fromone cent to ninety nine cents,-andunless these rolls are peculiarly constructed, it would 1 apparently require ninety nine separate positions of the rolls-for thispurpose. To avoid this complication or unusual size, thefirst roll 4;-hereinafter termed the'unitscents roll, presents a series the peripheral'planeof theroll and each receiving in fixed 'relation appropriate type members ll to'make up the=requiredword.

In the successive type channelslo :of theunits cents roll 4. there issarrangeditype which, follow- -ing a: properx'printinguoperation of the check writenwvillrindicate' on the checktheselected one of the following words: One, Two, Three,

Four, Five,.-.Six, :Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, and the final portions, that is" including the final six letters, of the remaining words..up torandincluding Nineteen,

the specific indication. on the roll being irteen, urteen, fifteen, .ixteen, enteen, ghteen, -and neteen. Between the'ifirial printing designation of neteen and'the "printing designation One,

initial cents reading is of unusual width due to there are two blank channels l2 and a channel bearing characters, for example, asterisks 13, which asterisk-bearing channel is the normal printing position of the roll 4 when no cents key has been operated. 5 The tens cents roll 5, the peripheral surface of which is wider than that of roll 4, is also formed with type-receiving channels l0 which, in sequence, bear the type characters indicating Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fifty, Sixty, 10 Seventy, Eighty and Ninety, followed by three channels bearing asterisks indicated at l4, and then successive channels bearing portions of the words to make up the completion of the words ""Thirteen to Nineteen on the roll 4; that is to 15 say,.in these successive channels, the roll 5 bears the characters Th, F0, F, S, Sev,

El and Ni. Between the Ni channel of the roll 5 and the channel bearing the word Twenty,

'there is on the roll 5 a blank channel I2, two 20 asterisk-bearing channels l5, and-another blank channellZ.

The units roll 6 of thedollars marking'rolls is similar to the units roll 4 of the cents marking rolls, that is to say, bears the characters in trans- 25 verse channels Hi to indicate the words from One to Twelve and a portion of the words from Thirteen to Nineteen, inclusive, such -portions being identical with the similar markings on unit roll 4. The tens roll I of the dollars 'marking rolls bears in transverse channels l5 printing type which indicate the words Twenty, Thirty, Forty, Fifty, Sixty, Seventy, Eighty and Ninety, followed by three channels l6 bearing asterisks, and then successive-i5 channels bearing completing portions 'of' the words to match with the incomplete words from Thirteen to Nineteen on the tens roll of the "cents printing rolls.

- Following'thefinal partial word on the tens roll 40 of the dollars printingrolls, there is a blank channel l0, followed by two channels I! bearing asterisks, and a succeeding blank channel preceding the first word Twenty on the tens roll l.- In

1 other words, the unit rolls of the cents printing 45 rolls and dollars printing rolls areidentical, the

- words indicating the final dollars reading and the initial cents reading, and if desired, where the space between the final dollars reading and the the word being printed,"the channel l0 bearing such word'- may be preceded by an asterisk merely of transverse channels l0- extending transverse 7 equal in number the number of blank channels,

so that this roll will print an impression in any position throughout one-half of its peripheral surface, the remaining half of its peripheral surface being blank and withoutprinting eifect. 75

The thousands roll 9 has transverse channels In provided with printing characters successively indicating the Words One, Two, Three, our, Five, si s ve Eight, i e, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, "Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen and Twenty, and following the final word Twenty there is a transverse channel l9 bearing asterisks, followed by a blank channel. Thus, the thousands roll can print any Word from One to Twenty, and also may have a position in which asterisks are printed or a position in which no printing impression is made.

As the characters printed by the rolls being described are designed to indicate the amount in words, it is, of course, necessary to include in this printing the words Thousand and Hundred to render legible the amount to be indicated by the words corresponding to the numerals; that is to say if the thousands roll 9 or the hundreds roll 8 of the dollars printing rolls are used, they must be respectively followed by the words Thousand and I-liundred in order to render intelligent the amount printed by these particular rolls. It is, of course, apparent that the printing elements indicating thousands and hundreds will require but two positions, one in which they print the particular word carried by them and the other in which there is no printing of the word; that is to say, if the hundreds roll 8 of the dollars printing rolls is being used, the word printed by it must always be followed by the Word Hundred, whereas if this word is not being used, there will be no necessity for printing the word Hundred. This applies identically to the thousands roll 9. Therefore, the members used to print the Word Hundred or Thousand need not be rolls as they require but two positions and they are shown as segments having a radius, of course, corresponding to that of the rolls in order that they may lie in the same printing plane as the perforations of the rolls.

The hundreds segment 25 has radial arms 2| loosely mounted on the spindle shaft 3, the segment bearing on its periphery channels ii! in one of which is arranged type making up the word Hundred and in the other of which are a series of asterisks, as at 22. The thousands segment 23 is identical with that of the hundreds segment having arms 2! mounted on the shaft 3, a transverse channel I 3 bearing the word Thousand and a second channel 24 having asterisk characters arranged therein. Each of these segments 2!] and 23 have two limit positions, one in which the asterisks are in the printing line and the other in which the word borne by the segment is in the printing line.

Means are provided by which the movements of these segments are limited to one or the other of the positions, such means including limiting bars 25 secured at one end to the frame 2 and depending between the arms 2| of the respective segments. These bars have upper and lower projections 26 and 2'! to be engaged by a pin 28 projecting from one of the arms 2| of each segment, thus limiting the segment to the upper and lower position determined by the pin and particular projection. The limiting bars 25 also have projections 29 arranged above the segments, between which and the pins 28 are arranged coil springs These springs tend to move the segments with the pins 28 against the upper projections 26 of the limiting bars, this being the norl present asterisks in the printing line.

mal position of the segments when arranging the asterisk-bearing channels 22 and 24 in the printing line.

A second spindle shaft 3| is mounted in the side plates 2 in a vertical plane with the spindle.

periphery bearing number printing characters in immediately successive groups from O to 9, there being two groups of these numbers, the 9 of the final group being separated by two blank channels 33. The tens roll 3 of the cents group of the number printing rolls has its channels provided with number printingcharacters from "2 to 9 inclusive, followed by ten such channels 33 each bearing a type printing the character "1, and following the final 1 there is a blank channel 33 followed by a channel 35 bearing an asterisk, a succeeding channel carrying a type printing 0, followed by a blank channel 33 between the 0 and the first character 2 before referred to.

The three rolls 35, 3? and 33 printing respecq tively the units, tens and hundreds of the dollars number printing rolls and the roll as printing the thousands of the number printing rolls are grouped together and slightly spaced from the cents number printing rolls. The units and tens 3 rolls 36 and 31 of the hundreds group are identical respectively with the units and tens rolls 32 and 34 of the cents group. The hundreds roll of the dollars print group has its channels 33 pr0- vided with number printing characters representing successively the numbers from O to 9, following which the succeeding eleven channels 33 of this roll are blank. The next channel, that is the channel immediately in advance of the channel bearing the 0 vided with an asterisk, as at 40. The thousands roll 39 has its successive channels 33 provided with number printing characters from 1 to 20 inclusive and immediately succeeding the the character 20 there is an asterisk-bearing channel H followed by a blank channel.

The development and correlative positions of the word-bearing rolls and number-bearing rolls are indicated clearly in Figure 10, from which it will be apparent that each of the rolls is shown with twenty-two transverse channels, and, as will later appear, all rolls, when in normal position, This is primarily for the purpose of causing each roll, when not in use, to be the means of making an impression on a check, so that substantially the full printing length or space occupied by either the words or numbers will be taken up by a printed character in order to avoid the possibility of fraudulently introducing other characters into an unmarked space and thus changing the value of the check.

The particular rolls both of the word-printing group and of the number-printing group must, of course, be capable of independent operation in order that any one roll may be set to permit the printing of a desired number. To provide for this result, each roll ismounted upon an independent sleeve and each sleeve is independently character. is pro- 4 a similar and *simultaneous1movement,.in: order that the. word and number printed n .anycone positionimay be in accord.

v:I rom the above.descriptionzitwill be apparent :that' there are in'the present machine six rollsin :each group and'to secure a balanced operation and save space in assembly threeof the rolls of xeach' group are operated; from one end of the respective spindle'shafts 3 and 3| and the other three rolls are operated-"from'the opposite 'end.

:In providing for this operation, the unit rollsv 4 'of the word-printing groupand 32 ofthe numher-printing group are providedz'withsleeves 42 :and 43 respectively, which sleeves-are fixed to the :respective rolls and loosely mounted on therespective spindleshafts 3 and 3!. Immediately beyondithese vunitrolls, that'is between the same and the adjacentside plate 2, the sleeves 42 and 43 'are provided. with pinions 44 and 45' respecs tively. These txpinio-ns' are :geared together I through .an intermediate idler46 mounted 'on a 'stub shaft projecting-"from the side plate 2', so

L-Lthat the pinions'44 and 45.and thereby: the unit rolls 4 and 3| operate in unison in the same direction and to the sameextent.

The tens rolls 5 and 34 of the respective groups have sleeves 41 and 48 mounted onspindle'shafts 3 and 3l'within sleeves 42 and 43, the sleeves 41 and '48 being terminally'provided with pinions 49 and 55 immediately'beyond and adjacentpinions 44 and 45, the pinions 49and 50 being connected by an idler pinion 5| on 'thestub shaftreferredto, causing the pinions-'44 and 45and therebycthe rolls" 5 and 36 to operate simultaneously and to the'same extent. Therolls 6 of the'word group 'and*3$ of the number grouparezprovided' with sleeves 52 and 53 respectivelywhich-bear' directly upon thespindle shafts 3 within the sleeves 41 and-48 and are terminally provided with pinions --54 and 55 respectively:arrangediimmediately adjacent the pinions'49 and 5|),said pinions"54rand 55 being geared by an:idler' 56 onxthe stub shaft beforereferr'ed to.

Thus, the rolls 4, 5and 6 are-mounted on concentric sleeves, each independentlymovable and each provided witha' terminalpiniomtthe rolls 32, 34 and '36 being similarly mounted on concentricsleeves' independently movable: and having terminal pinions. The pinionsof corresponding rolls'of the respective groups aregeared together through idlers, so that the'simil'ar rol1s;are compelled to move in the same directionrandl to the same extent in any operation.

.The remaining rollsz'of .eachgroup are connected and mountedfor simultaneous operation .il'l associated pairs"iexactlyas are: the rollspreviously described, except that in this instance. the remaining rolls have their sleeves projectingtoward the opposite end of the spindle shafts and are geared at such opposite-end. Thus, rolls 1 .and 31 are provided with sleeves Hand 58 respectively mountedloosely on the spindle shafts 3 and 3| and extending longitudinally ofhsaid spindles toward the endopposite. that carrying the pinions'of the first three pairs of rolls. These sleeves 51 and 58 have pinions 59 and 50 connected by an idler 6| mounted on a stub shaft projecting from the adjacent side plate 2, so that the rolls 1 and 31 are connected for'unitary and similar movement. "Rolls il'and' 38 have sleeves .1162 and =63 *mounted on the respective sleeves "51 sleeves -61-and 68 mounted on the sleeves 66 and 63 respectively and extending lengthwise the spindles 3 and 3| and provided immediately beyond the pinions '64 and 65 with pinions 69 and 10 connected-by an idler 1| onthe before mentioned stub shaft.

, Thus, the similar rolls of the number-printing group and word-printing group are connected for simultaneous and similar movement, so that when any roll is moved to arrange, for example, a numberindicating word in printing position, the cor- 'responding roll "of the number group will be 7 moved to place the number corresponding to that word in printing position.

The idlers referred to are each driven by a toothed wheel 12 and the respective toothed wheels are fixed to sleeves 13, such as previously described, concentrically mounted on a shaft 14. Toathexinner ends of the sleeves 13 are fixed toothed wheels -.15 adapted to be operated by racks 16 which are connected to and form continuations of operating bars 11.

Arranged in the machine in advance or forwardly of the printing elements are longitudinal framebars .18 in whichare .mounted vertically movable keys 19. The keys are arranged in rows longitudinally ofsthe machine, there being one row for each separate type-bearing roll of the printing elements; that is to say, there are two (rows of keys for centsand a row of keys for each of theunits, tens, hundreds, thousands, etc., for dollars.

..A control bar 11.is arranged beneath each row :ofkeys, andthe rack 16 of each control .bar is ,pivotally connected to that bar and moves in a guide Bilbelow the toothed wheels 15, the guides serving to hold the rack in cooperation with its particular toothed wheel. vThe control bars and racks are pivotally connected one with the other ..sothat while .the rack isconfined to a sliding .movement in a horizontal plane, the control bar pro-per is permitted a vertical play as well as a slidingmovementfor a purpose which will later -.appear.

4 Each rack-bar is provided with a depending pin 8! to which is connected'one end of a spring 82, vthe opposite end being anchored to the frame.

These springs serve to move any particular control bar and its connected rack toward the rear of the machine when the parts have been actuated to free the control bar from its normal holding means.

A leaf spring 83 underlies each control bar to hold the free or forward end of said bar in a raised position to thereby permit a projection 84 on said bar to engage in advance of the lower edge of a transverse 'frame plate 85. Thus the control bars are normally held against movement in the rearward direction under the influence of the spring 82.

'Each of the keys 19 is supported by a light spring 86 and each key is adapted, when depressed, to correspondingly depress the-underlying control bar 11 to a position to free said bar from holding cooperation with the plate 85 and thereby permit the spring 82 of that bar to move it and the corresponding rack 16 rearwardly for the operation of the printing elements. Each control bar is provided with stops 81 and the lower end of each key is shouldered to provide a portion which will engage anddepress theparticular control bar and a portion which will depend in the plane of movement of one of the stops 81.

Quite obviously, therefore, the depression of a particular key will first release the underlying control bar and provide a limit element with which an adjacent stop on the control bar cooperates when the control bar is moved under the influence of its spring to thereby limit the operative movement of the control bar. If the stops 8] are appropriately arranged, it will be apparent that a particular key will so limit the operative movement of the control bar that the rack of that control bar will actuate the printing rolls to that predetermined extent necessary to arrange in the printing line the word and number corresponding to that of the key depressed. The character of the stops 8? is immaterial as they may be formed as projections, indentations, or in any other desired manner.

It is, of course, apparent that the machine must be so designed that only one key of a particular row may be depressed for any one operation of the machine and that therefore means must be provided whereby, when a particular key has been depressed, all other keys of that row are locked out or prevented from being operated.

To secure this result, a locking plate 88 is ar ranged for cooperation with each row of keys and mounted for a sliding movement in the frame parts, the plate being held or influenced for movement in the rearward direction by a spring 89. The plate is formed with a series of apertures 90, one for each key and each key is provided with a rearwardly extending projection 9i which, together with the width of the key, presents an area just sufiicient to pass through the particular plate opening 99. Above the projection 9I each key is formed to provide a shoulder 92 extending forwardly and above the shoulder the key is of somewhat greater width than below the shoulder.

Therefore, on the depression of any key, the locking plate is moved forwardly against the influence of its spring, and when the key reaches its fully depressed position, the shoulder 92 is on a plane below the locking plate and the latter, under the influence of the spring, moves rearwardly, engaging above the shoulder 92 and preventing the particular key from rising. As the wider portion of the operated key is now in the opening 9i! in the locking plate, this locking plate is held in a forward position to a degree insuflioient to permit the operated key shoulder 92 from moving upwardly but sufficiently to prevent the projection 9i from passing downwardly through any of the other openings 99 of the locking plate. Thus, the locking plate serves to permit the operation of a selected key; serves to hold that selected key in operated position; and serves to prevent the operation of any other key of the row.

From the above description, it will be understood that when a particular key is depressed it will permit the control bar to move a predetermined distance and that this movement of the control bar will correspondingly move its connected rack and through the rack position the type-bearing rolls controlled by the particular key to arrange the desired printing elements in the printing line.

In connection with the operation of a particular control bar, it is desired that all remaining control bars to the right be permitted an automatic movement to arrange the numbei bearing printing rolls of all such control bars to the right to indicate zero, and as will be plain from Figure 10, to cause all the word-bearing printing rolls to position a line of asterisks in the printing line. This is for the purpose of permitting a number containing one or more zeros as the final digits to be arranged for printing by the depression of only ltahe keys necessary to indicate the selected numers.

To provide for this, each control bar I? is provided forwardly of the stop 9:! with an additional stop 93, this stop being spaced from the stop 84 a distance equal to the desired movement of the control bar for moving its governed type-bearing printing rolls to the zero indicating position. Each control bar ll overlies a lateral roller 94 of a lever element 95 pivotally mounted upon the -e bar 85 below the control bar. Each lever elem nt additionally includes an arm 96 overlying a pin 97 projecting from the next adjacent control bar to the right.

Thus, on operation of any one control bar H, the lever elements of all control bars to the right are tripped and such control bars to the right are depressed to release the engagement of the stop 8d and frame 85, following which depression and incident to the rocking of the lever element 85, the arm 96 rides off of the pin 91. The depression of the particular control bar has been sufficient to permit the spring 82 to move the control bar rearwardly a distance between the stops 8% and 93 and as the arm 96 of the lever element rides off of the pin 91, the springs 83 act to move the control bar upwardly to cause its stop 99 to engage the frame bar 85. Thus, all control bars to the right of the operated control bar will be automatically operated to set the number type-bearing rolls to the zero positions.

It has been previously stated that the segments 29 and 23 bearing respectively the words Hundred and Thousand are normally positioned so that the words carried thereby are out of the printing line and that such segments or either of them are not to be operated so as to move the particular word into the printing line unless the roll with which the particular segment cooperates is operated. From the previous description, it will be seen that the roll 8 of the hundreds column of the word-printing group is operated through the operation of a particular pinion while the thousands roll 9 is operated through the operation of another pinion.

It is apparent, therefore, that means must be provided which, in the operation of these respective pinions, will also actuate the corresponding segment so as to arrange the word thereon in the printing line; that is to say, when the roll 8 is operated to arrange a word thereon in the printing line, the segment 20 must be operated to move the Word Hundred thereon into the printing line, so that the word printed will have its proper significance and consequently when the roll 9 has been operated to arrange a word thereon in the printing line, the segment 23 must be correspondingly operated to arrange the word Thousand in the printing line.

Loosely mounted between the arms 2| of each of the segments is a collar 98 from which projects an arm 99 connected by a spring I96 to an extension IIJI of one of the arms 2!. A spindle I92 is mounted in projections from the frame 2 on which spindle is mounted a sleeve I03 having an arm IM projecting toward segment 29 and terminating in a roller I95 which rests between the arm 99 and extension I9I. The opposite end of the sleeve I03 is provided with an arm I06 which extends toward the spindle and isterminally provided with a roller pin I87 which bears-upon an annular flange I08 forming part of the pinion. This flange is of somewhat less diameter than the maximum diameter of the pinion and is coning on an annular flange I I5 forming part of the adjacent pinion, this flange being concentric with said pinion except for a recess IIG of a size to receive the roller pin II4.. The parts are so designed that when the rolls 8 and 9 are in normal position, that is with no printing indicia on such rolls other than the asterisks in the printing line, the pinions will be in such positions that the roller pins IB'Iand H4, which control the arms I64 and I I I, will be in the respective recesses I99 and 8 I5. Under these conditions, the roller pins I25 and I I2 ofthe arms I84 and I I i will exert no pressure on the segments and the springs 39 will hold the segments in such positions that the words borne thereby will be out of the printing line, that is with their pins 28 against the upper projection 25 of the limiting bar.

In operating either of the rolls 8 or 9, the pinions respectivelyv corresponding therewith must, of course, be first actuated. As these pinions are turned, the roller pins I07 and I I4 will be moved out of the recesses and onto the concentric portions of the flange I08 or H5. This causes the arms I04 and III to be moved to exert a pressure on the collar arm 99 of the particular segment and through the spring 188 move the segment or segments sov that its pin 28 will be forced against the lower projection 21 of the limiting bar, thus arranging the word carried by the segment or segments in the printing line. Of course, if but one pinion is operated, but one segment will be actuated, though the construction provides for the operation of both segments if both rolls 8 and 9 are to be positioned for printing.

Resetting means for all operated racks and for the simultaneous release of all actuated keys is provided through the medium of levers II I connected to the frame bars I and connected near their lower ends with a cross-bar H8 normally held in their rearmost position by a spring H9. The cross-bars H8 are arranged in rear of the pins BI depending from each rack, so that when the levers II! are operated, all pins BI and thereby all racks which have been moved rearwardly are returned to normal positions, upon reaching which the projections 84 on the re-.-

turned control bars engage beneath the edge of the opening in the frame bar 85.

A shaft I20 is mounted on the frame adjacent the rear ends of the locking plates 88, from which shaft depends an arm I2I seating in an opening in the rear end of each locking plate. The shaft I20 carries an upstanding rigid arm I22 connected by a cross-bar I23 with one of the levers III all locking plates are moved forwardly to release the locked keys, the springs 88 elevating the keys to normal position.

A shaft I24 is supported beneath the bed plate I25 of the machine for rocking movement, one .end of the shaft being provided with a handle Thus, as the lever III is operated,.

I26; hereinafter referred'to as the main operating handle. A gear segment I2'I is secured on shaft I24 extending through a slot in the bed plate I25 at one side of the bank of keys. This segment cooperates with a gear I28 supported upon a shaft I29 mounted in a pillar I39 rising from thebed plate, on which shaft I22 is secured a bevel gear I3I cooperating with a bevel gear I32 arranged on one end of a shaft I33 and extending longitudinally of and toward the rear of the bed plate for the operation of the pressure rolls in a manner which will later appear.

Mounted in the upper surface of the base plate at the forward end is a shaft I34 on one terminal of which is a finger lever I35. On the shaft I34 is a projection I35 adapted, when the shaft is operated in one direction, to force upwardly the forward end of a resetting lever l3] which extends longitudinally of the machine and is pivoted to the frame at I38. The resetting lever has a depending arm I39 in line with the pivot which extends through a slot in the bed plate I25and is connected to one end of a spring I4. anchored at the opposite end to the bed plate to insure the return movement of the resetting lever. The .rear end of the resetting lever I3? is connected to an angle lever I4! pivoted on the frame, one arm of which has a pin-and-slot connection with the cross-bar I23, the relation being. such that in the operative movement of the resetting lever, all actuated rack bars are returned to normalposition.

Loosely mounted on the shaft I34 is a plate segment I42 which is moved about the shaft as a center through the medium of a bar I43 connected to the gear segment I21 and to the plate segment I42. An arm I44 is secured to the shaft I34 and pivotally carries at its free end a pawl I45, a shoulder I46 at the nose end of which is designed tooverlie and rest in the plane of movement of the free end of the plate segment I42.

Thus, when the plate segment is operated under. normal or non-repeat. conditions in the movement of the main operating handle I28, the shoulder I45 ofthe pawl I45 is engaged and the shaft I34 moved in a direction to raise the forward .end. of the resetting lever I31. In this movement, the tail I41 of the pawl I45 engages a stop I48 fixed on a standard I49 rising from the bedplate and trips the-pawl to release the shaft- I34 and permit the spring I45 to move the .resetting arm for the resetting operation.

Obviously, therefore, if the pawl is held so that. the plate segment I42 does not engage the same in the operation of the handle I25, the resetting mechanism is not operated. This is taken advantage of to secure a repeat operation, this, repeat mechanism including a shaft I58 mounted in. the standard I49 and provided at one end with an arm I5I having a pin E52 underlying.the pawl. The opposite end of the shaft I50- is connected by a lever I54 to a repeat key I9 arranged in one row of keys, preferably the row nearest to the mechanism being described.

The repeat key is formed so as to cooperate with the locking plate 88 of that row of keys butavoidsoperating the control bar for that row. Thus, when the repeat key is depressed, it does not affect the status of any other key of the row nor induce an operation of the control bar. When the repeat key is depressed, the shaft I50'is rocked, so that the pin I52 underlies the pawl I45 and prevents the shoulder I46 thereof from engaging the plate segment I42. There- .slots fore; the main operating handle may be operated at will without effecting a resetting of the typebearing rolls from their previously set position. In this way, any particular printing position of said rolls may be continuously reprinted on the check or other paper as often as desired. When the repeat key has been restored to normal position, the pawl I will be engaged by the plate segment in the next operation of the parts and the resetting operation carried out.

An essential feature of the present invention is the provision of a printing head to be re movably secured to the machine proper and to provide for impressing the type of the printing rolls when in printing line onto the check or other article to be printed, the impression being reproduced through an inked ribbon. The printing pressure is obtained through the use of pressure rolls acting only on the printing line, and in order to avoid irregular or smearing impressions, the impression rolls are moved in one direction with imprinting pressure and in the opposite direction without such pressure.

The printing head includes a skeleton frame lit designed to be removably secured to the main frame of the machine, preferably through openings designed to fit over studs 58 on the machine frame, nuts I59 cooperating with the studs to secure the head in proper position.

The inner surface of the printing head or that portion next the type-bearing rolls is in the form of a thin plate I60 having transverse iiiI anditZ arranged in the printing line of the respective sets of type-bearing rolls, the upper slot Ifii, which is designed to cooperate with the number-bearing rolls, being closed at points at which there are no numbers presented, while the lower slot I62, which cooperates with the Word-bearing rolls, is open throughout its whole length.

A guide rod IE3 is fixed in ears extending rearwardly from the main frame of the printing head and an impression member I 64 is mounted for sliding movement on the guide rod, being preferably formed with an elongated bearing on said rod to insure an easy and accurate movement of the impression member. Upper and lower impression rollers m5 and E65 are supported for free rotative movement inthe impression members, these rollers being aligned with the respective slots ifil and I62, so as to force the check or other paper into contact with the type, through the intervening inked ribbon, to impress a particular type onto the check or paper.

As previously stated, the impression rollers are design-ed to act with printing pressure in the movement of the impression member in one direction transverse the head and free of this printing pressure in the opposite direction. To secure this result, the impression rollers are supported upon shafts i6! mounted in elongated openings I68 in inwardly projecting extensions of the impression member, thus permitting the rollers to have movement to and from their impression positions. Springs I69 are arranged in rear of the shafts it? to normally hold the shafts and thereby theimpression rollers in imprinting or pressure positions.

ii-shaped adjusting members I'ifl are arranged to cooperate with the shaftof each impression roller, the arms of the members being of tapering form and fittmg in correspondingly shape-d openings I'll in the roller carrying projections in advance of the shafts I61. The adjusting members I'Iii, by reasonof their tapered formation and of 7 the correspondingly tapered formation of the openings I II, are limited in movement in one direction and in this position recesses I72 formed in the arms of the members are aligned with the shafts I61 to permit said shafts to move toward the type-bearing rolls under the influence of the springs I69. In movement in the opposite direction, the members are moved to cause the shafts and thereby the rollers to be forced outwardly from the type-bearing rolls, thus preventing pressure-bearing contact of the rollers.

The adjusting members Iii} project in both directions beyond the roller-carrying projections of the impression member, and the frame I56 of the printing head presents abutments H3 with which the adjusting members contact as the impression member reaches its limit of movement in both directions, to thereby properly position the adjusting members for controlling the pressure-bearing contact of the impression rollers.

The impression member is reciprocated transverse the printing head in the respective movements of the main operating handle, and to secure this result, rollers I74 are rotatably mounted on the printing head beyond the limits of movement of the impression member, one of the rollers being provided with radial projections I75. A band I16 formed with openings to cooperate with the projections I15 encircles the rollers and is secured to the impression member at Ill. Thus, with the roller I 74, which is provided with the projections. operated in the movement of the handle E25, the impression member will be reciprocated. Of course, it is understood that the openings in the band HIS need not extend throughout the full length of the band but only for, the distance necessary to cause the required movementof the impression member.

The roller I'M, which is provided with the projections, is supported upon a shaft I18 which extends through the frame I56 and is formed with a diametrically opposed slot I79. The shaft I33, heretofore described as rotated in the operation of the handle I 26, is formed with a terminal projection I88 to fit within the slot I19. the printing head is in position, the power roller for operating the impression member is directly connected to the shaft I33, so that in the operation of the handle I26, the impression member is reciprocated.

It is understood, of course, that an inked ribbon is employed and arranged between the impression rolls and the type of the type-bearing rolls and that this ribbon is intermittently advanced in each idle movement of the impression member.

Furthermore, as in the ordinary machine of this type, means operated by the shaft I24 may be employed to center the printing rolls, such means including members which, following the initial setting of the printing rolls and during the printing operation, may engage in the teeth of one of the sets of gears for operating the printing rolls to absolutely center the gears and at the same time prevent any possibility of their accidental movement during the printing operation.

Furthermore, the invention contemplates as a part of the machine, if such be desired, any conventional means for ejecting the printed check or paper. Such means is illustrated conventionally at: I8i in Figure 3, but no particular detailed de- Thus, when scrlption thereof..:is necessary as such: forms new material part of .the present invention.

Through theuse of the machine described,.it

is apparent thatthrough the manipulation of the" proper keys; the: type-bearing 'rolls', bothas to .fingerlever..l35, are to be enclosed in a suitable casing-though .this'is not deemed necessary to illustrate:

'Iheiingerrleverlfii, of course, serves to provide for :an operation of the resetting mechanism without the necessity of operating "the main operating'handle i265 provision being thus made for correctingany errorswhich may arise during the settingzof ''the printing: rolls for a particular.

printing operation...

What is claimed to be new is:

1. In aprinting machine including manually operable printing means capable of variable printing positions and an operating handle, an impression head arranged in rear of the printing means, an impression memberreciprocated transversely of the head, rollers carried by the meme ber for impression cooperation with the printing means, means carried by the member and automatically actuated'in the reciprocation of the member to permit the impression rollers to as-.

sume an impression position in. one movement 01E the member and compel. said rollers to move to a non-impression position in the other movement of the roller, and means directlyoperated 1 by the handle for reciprocating the impression head, said means including a band connected to the member, rollers mounted onthe head over which the band travels, one of the rollers being designed for drivingv connectionwith'the band, and a shaft operated by a removable connection'with the driving roller.

2. In a printing machine, a series of typebe'aring rolls, aplurality of rows of manually operable keys, each row of keys controlling two of such type-bearing rolls, each row of keys for operating the type-bearing rolls controlled by such row of keys on the depression of any key of the row, and means automatically actuated 0n the depression of any key of one row to correspondingly and automatically eiiect a predetermined movement of the typebearing rOlls controlled by the keys of certain other rows.

3. A printing machine including a plurality of --sets of type-bearing rolls, the rolls of one set being designed to imprint words and the rolls ofthe other'set being designed to imprint corresponding numbers, a plurality of rows of keys, a control bar operated by each row of keys to compel a simultaneous and similar movement of I a particular word-bearing roll and corresponding number-bearing roll, and means whereby the operation of one control bar by a key automaticallycompels movement of certain othercontrol bars to thereby"move". the word-bearing and the handle and having means intermediate number-bearing rolls',oivsuch..other control bars a predetermined distance.

4. .A printing machine including a plurality of sets of type-bearing rolls, the rollsv of one set. being designedto imprint words and the rolls of the other 'set being designed to imprint corre-. sponding numbers, a plurality of rows ofkeys,

a control bar operatedby each row of keys to compel a simultaneousand similarmovement of a particular word-bearing roll and corresponding numberebe'aring roll, and means whereby the operationof one control bar by a key automatically compels movement of certain other control bars to thereby move the word-bearing and number-bearing rolls of such other control bars a predetermined distance, said automatically operated control bars being capable of key-controlledoperation independently of the automatic operation.

5. A printing machine including a plurality of sets of type-bearing rolls, the rolls of one set being designed to imprint words and the rolls of the other set being designed to imprint corresponding numbers, a plurality of rows of keys, a control bar operated by each row of keys to compel a simultaneous and similar movement of a particular word-bearing roll and corresponding number-bearing roll, and a lever operated by each'key-operated control bar to correspondingly operate the control bar of the next adjacent row of keys. to permit a predetermined movement of such bar and a corresponding operation of the word-bearing and number-bearing rolls of that bar, the levers being arranged to operate allcontrol bars which govern word-bearing and number-bearing rolls expressing a lower amount than the rolls operated by the key-actuated control bar.

6. In acheck printer or the like, a manually positioned printing .roll bearing word indications of a series of numbers, a printing segment hearing .a word to complete the indication of the printing roll, means for normally holding the segment out" of printing position, and means for moving the segment into printing position simultaneously with the movement of the printing roll to any: printing position otherthan normal.

'7. Inra check printer or the like, a printing rollbearing'wordindications of figures, a printing segment: bearing a word to complete the indication of the printing roll inany printing position of said roll other than normal, a pinion for:operating the. printing roll to any printing position, manually operable means for controlling the movement of the pinion and thereby of the printing .roll, andoneans intermediate the segment and pinion. and operated in the initial movement .of the pinion. to move the segment into printing position.

8. .InLa check printer or the like, a printing rolL-bearing word indicationsof figures, a printing segment bearing a word to complete the indication of theprinting roll in any printing positionof'said roll other than normal, a pinion for operating'the printing roll to any printing position, manually operable means'for controlling the movement of the pinion and thereby of the printing roll, and means intermediate the segment and pinion and operated in the initial movement of the pinion to move the segment into printing position, said means serving to maintain the segment in printing position during any printing .roll movement of the pinion.

9. A check printer or the like including a,

ing segment bearing a word to-complete the :sig-

nificance of the words on the printing roll, a manually controlled pinion for operating the printing roll to a selected printing position, means for moving the segment into and out of printing position, and an element operating with the pinion to control said means, said element being formed to position the means for holding the segment at the printing position when the pinion and thereby the printing roll is in normal position, the element operating to force said means to move the segment to printing position in any movement of the pinion tending to set the printing roll for printing. ,9

v10. In a check printer or the like, 'a printing roll bearing words, a printing segment bearing a word indication to complete the printed representation of the printing roll inany one printing position, a member for rocking the printing seg-- ment to and from a printing position, a manually controlled pinion for selectively operating the printing roll to any printing position, a collar carried by and movable with the pinion and formed with a depression, and a member carried by the rocking element to seat in said depression when the pinion, and thereby the printing roll, is in normal position, the surface of the collar beyond the depression serving to rock the element to move the segment into printing position in any pinion movement tending to position the printing roll for the printing operation.

11. In a check or like printerof the type including a manually controlled printing means and a main operating handle, a, printing impression member, a shaft on which the member is guided, means intermediate the member and handle for reciprocating the member on the shaft, impression rolls carried by the member and designed for impression cooperation with the printing means, each of the rolls being mounted on a shaft having a limited free play in the member toward and from the printing means, and an element automatically cooperating with said shaft for moving the shaft and thereby the roll mounted thereon to a position free of the printing means.

12. In a check or like printer of the type including a manually controlled printing means and a main operating handle, a printing impression member, a shaft on which the member is guided, means intermediate the member and handle for reciprocating the member on the shaft, impression rolls carried by the member and designed for impression cooperation with the printing means, each of the rolls being mounted on a shaft having a limited free play in the member toward and from the printing means, and an element automatically "cooperating with said shaft for moving the shaft and thereby the roll mounted thereon to a position free of the printing means, said element being formed to permit the shaft in a certain relative position of the element to be free of the holding influence of the element.

13. In a check or like printer of the type including a manually controlled printing means and a main operating handle, a printing impression member, a shaft on which the member is guided, means intermediate the member and handle for reciprocating the member on the shaft, impression rolls carried by the member and designed for impression cooperation with the printing means, each of the rolls being mounted on a shaft having a limited free play in the member toward and from the printing means, an element automatically cooperating with said shaft for moving the shaft and thereby the roll mounted thereon toa position free of the printing means,

said element being formed to permit the shaft in a certain relative position of the element to be free of the holding influence of the element, and spring means cooperating with each shaft to move the shaft and thereby the roll carried on the shaft yieldingly toward the printing means.

14. Ina check or like printer of the type in cluding a manually controlled printing means and a main operating handle, an impression head, a shaft on which the head is guided, means actu- 'a-ted by the handle for reciprocating the head on the shaft, an impression roller mounted in the head for bodily movement in a direction at right angles to the movement of the head, said roller in an operative position cooperating with the printing means and in an inoperative position being held free of cooperation with the printing means, and means automatically set at the respective limit movements of the head in the operation of the handle for controlling the relation of the roller to the printing means.

15. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a fixed plane, impression rollers carried by the head above and below said guiding means, mounting means for the impression rollers to permit said rollers to move independently in parallel planes at right angles tothe plane of movement of the head, and means carried by the head and automatically operable at the extreme limits of movement of the head for controlling the mounting means.

16. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a fixed plane, impression rollers having their axes parallel to the plane of movement of the head, means for mounting said rollers in the head to permit independent bodily movement of the rollers in parallel planes at right angles to the plane of movement of the head, means carried by the head for automatically moving the rollers toward an impression position, and elements carried by the head and automatically reciprocated at the respective limits of movement of the head,

said elements in one position holding the rollers against the influence of the automatic positioning means and in another position freeing said rollers to said automatic moving means.

17. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a predetermined plane, upper and lower impression rollers carried by the head, with their axes parallel to the plane of movement of the head, springs carried by the head for moving the rollers bodily in a direction at right angles to the plane of movement or the head for impression purposes, elements carried by the head and cooperating with the rollers, said elements in one position freeing the rollers for movement under the influence of the springs and in another position for holding the rollers against such springinfluenced movement, and means arranged at each limit of movement or" the head for operating said elements.

18. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a predetermined plane, upper and lower impression rollers carried by the head, with their axes parallel to the plane of movement of the head, springs carried by the head for moving the rollers bodily in a direction at right angles to the plane of movement of the head for impression purposes, elements carried by the head and cooperating with the rollers, said elements in one position freeing the rollers for movement under 10 the influence of the springs and in another position for holding the rollers against such springinfluenced movement, and means arranged at each limit of movement of the head for operating said elements, said elements in each position limiting possible movement of the rollers.

19. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a fixed plane, impression rollers mounted in the head, with their axes substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the head, springs for moving the rollers bodily in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the head and into impression position, and elements mounted in the head and cooperating with the rollers, said members being movable to different positions during movement of and at the limit of movement of the head in each direction, said elements in one position holding the rollers against spring-influenced movement and in another position freeing the rollers to such spring-influenced movement.

20. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a fixed plane, impression rollers mounted in the head, with their axes substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the head, springs for moving the rollers bodily in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the head and into impression position, and elements mounted in the head and cooperating with the rollers, said members being movable to different positions during movement of and at the limit of movement of the head in each direction, said elements in one position holding the rollers against springinfiuenced movement and in another position freeing the rollers to such spring-influenced movement, the elements in both positions forming a fixed limit of movement of the rollers toward their impression position.

21. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a fixed plan, upper and lower rollers carried by the head, with their axes substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the head, springs carried by the head for influencing the rollers to move the rollers in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the head and toward and into impression position, and elements slidably mounted in the head and automatically operated at each limit of movement of the head to thereby assume one of two positions during movement of the head, said elements being formed with recesses to align with the axes of the rollers in one position of the elements to permit movement of the rollers under the influence of the springs to the limit of the recesses.

22. In a check or like printer, an impression head, means for guiding the head for movement in a fixed plane, upper and lower rollers carried by the head, with their axes substantially parallel to the plane of movement of the head, springs carried by the head for influencing the rollers to move the rollers in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the head and toward and into impression position, and elements slidably mounted in the head and automatically operated at each limit of movement of the head to thereby assume one of two positions during movement of the head, said elements being formed with recesses 3 to align with the axes of the rollers in one position of the elements to permit movement of the rollers under the influence of the springs to the limit of the recesses, said elements beyond the recesses holding the rollers in retracted position 3 relative to their impression position and. against the influence of the springs.

EDWARD J. WARD. 

